“You have been here for what, a month? And still you have found nothing?” Rosalie’s voice was harsh. She was sitting on the couch drinking a piping hot cup of tea when I woke up. Zephyr must have made it for her. When Dimitri had caught sight of her, he’d ducked into my room, which was probably for the best.

  “Have you found anything?” Maverick asked, crossing his arms.

  “No, but that’s beside the point.” She crossed her arms in a huff and glanced away. “I’m here because I made a realization.”

  “D-did you have another vision?” Aidan asked, for once not playing a video game. Rosalie had scared him almost just as much as she had scared Dimitri.

  “No. I said it was a realization.”

  “Go on,” Zephyr encouraged her.

  “Why do you think the Magus of Historia picked Earth specifically? Is it not coincidental that this is the same world Elaina hails from?”

  The room went silent save for the faint sound of water running. Zephyr quickly ran to the kitchen to turn off the sink he’d apparently left running.

  “You’re saying the Magus of Historia came for me?” I asked.

  “Potentially.”

  “But that doesn’t make any sense!” Maverick interjected. “They would have known Ella was in Meridia!”

  “What if they wanted to lure her back for some reason? There is much about this world we don’t know. Much that Elaina herself doesn’t know. What if there lies a secret to which Elaina is the key?”

  “I don’t like this.” My hands began to ice over.

  “What is it that you want us to do, Rosalie?” Zephyr asked.

  Rosalie pinched the bridge of her nose. “You performed a little conjuring trick a couple weeks ago, didn’t you? Perform another one. This time, with Elaina—”

  “Absolutely not,” I said loudly, taking Rosalie aback. “My family still has no idea what has happened to me. If they were to see me on stage… I have no idea how they’d feel, but I imagine not good.”

  “And it would put Ella at risk. She’d have a target on her back,” Finn added.

  “She’s already at risk.” Rosalie rolled her eyes. “We have no idea how much time we have before Earth gets destroyed. If you want to sit around here waiting for another idea to come to you, be my guests. But considering this is Elaina’s world, I thought you might want to act with a little more haste.”

  “How do we know that their finding Elaina isn’t what causes Earth’s destruction?” Maverick asked. “What if her powers as an Ethereal spiral out of control, and her confrontation with their leader causes an explosion so great Earth is destroyed?”

  “Elaina wasn’t in my vision. Having Elaina present is the best way to ensure my vision doesn’t come to pass.”

  Silence flooded the room once again.

  Rosalie had a point in that we couldn’t wait indefinitely. Earth was a ticking time bomb, and we hadn’t made any progress in the past three weeks besides meeting Dimitri. Even if we forced him to talk, there was a high chance he didn’t know what they were planning.

  My family or my world. The answer seemed pretty obvious, but it didn’t make things any easier. If only I could talk to them first… But that would only put them in danger, wouldn’t it? They could use my family as a way of controlling me. It was best that I stayed as far away as possible.

  “I’ll do it,” I said to everyone’s surprise. “But on one condition. I want to see my family when this is all over. I want to let them know that I’m safe.”

  “Deal.” Rosalie stared at me unblinking.

  “E-Ella, are you sure you’re okay with this…?” Aidan asked.

  “Yes. If Earth gets destroyed and there was a way I could have prevented it, I would never forgive myself. I have to try anything at this point.” I smiled at him, as genuinely as I could muster. From his expression, I knew it came off as pained.

  “Well then. That went easier than I expected. You five surprisingly saw reason. We will reconvene after your task is complete.” With that, she disappeared. “Surprisingly saw reason"?

  Finn seemed to study my reaction—concern evident on his face. I didn’t know what he needed to study my face for when he’s a mind reader. “Are you sure you’re really all right with this? You seem to be avoiding thinking about the finer details,” he said.

  I sighed. “I’m avoiding thinking about them because I know if I do, I’ll second-guess the whole thing.”

  “There’s still time to change your mind.” Maverick crossed his arms and leaned his back against the wall. He was being surprisingly… nice about everything.

  “Rosalie is right. We don’t have any other options.”

  “Maybe you should give your dad a call ahead of time. It would be best if he heard everything from you before seeing you in the paper,” Finn suggested.

  “No. We’re not famous enough to go viral. I don’t think one more show is going to change that. There’s a greater chance that he won’t find out than that he will. I’d rather take my chances.”

  “Fair enough.”

  “W-what if we tried asking Dimitri again? Then Ella doesn’t h-have to risk anything?” Aidan suggested.

  “He’s not going to tell us anything—Ella or not.” Maverick shook his head.

  “Right… We should start preparing. We need a new act,” I explained.

  “Getting another gig booked should be even easier than last time. I imagine Maverick could even do it without me this time.” Finn winked.

  Maverick pushed himself off the wall, taking a few steps closer to Finn. “But then you’d miss out on that hot secretary.” He smirked.

  “Shit.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Finn stays here and helps us formulate a new act.”

  “W-why can’t Finn go?” Aidan asked pointedly.

  “Because the three of us were only able to come up with so much last time. Finn and Maverick had to rearrange half the act or outright adjust things we would have never taken into consideration.” I crossed my arms.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  “Whatever. Sounds like you won’t need my help this time.” Aidan rolled his eyes, taking hold of the controller again.

  Or was about to, anyway. Finn grabbed it, using it to bonk Aidan on the head. “Stop being such a horny ass.”

  “I-I’m not!” Aidan flushed, his voice unusually loud and critical. “I-if I wasn’t any help last time, I’m not going to be helpful this time!”

  “Mhm.” Finn crossed his arms, the controller still in his hand. “Maybe you’re the one who needs a turn with the sexy receptionist.”

  “I—” Aidan’s voice cracked.

  “I’ll go with Maverick to see the sexy receptionist,” Zephyr interjected. “You three play nice; and don’t forget to feed Dimitri.”

  “Shit, I forgot that guy still exists.” Finn sighed.

  Maverick and Zephyr began walking down the hall.

  “She really isn’t your type,” I could hear Maverick say in the distance.

  “That wasn’t the point,” Zephyr replied.

  Great. I had until they returned to get these two— three— to make up.

  Aidan, of course, went back to his spot on the couch. Finn started walking towards his room before he heard a not-so-nice thought wander across my mind and instantly turned around.

  “Come on, little one. The Lady is serious.” Finn ruffled Aidan’s hair before dragging him by his hoodie to the dining room table. Aidan had a death grip on his controller as he let himself be dragged.

  “L-little one?” Aidan muttered.”

  “Lady?” I raised an eyebrow.

  “Lady, as in your title.” Finn grinned at me.

  “I don’t want to come up with ideas for a second act.” Aidan crossed his arms, and Finn used it as his chance to snatch the controller he’d let fall. After a couple seconds, it disappeared. “W-where did it go?!”

  “Somewhere where you’ll never find it. Or at least you won’t until you listen to what I have to say.”

  “You’re not my parent.” Aidan turned his head away, his arms still crossed.

  “Wait, you can make items disappear just like that?!” I asked in amazement.

  “I ‘teleported’ it away,” Finn explained. “Since it’s such a small object, it’s easy to manipulate. Calling it back is impossible, though. Unless you’re an Ethereal, or that’s your Talent. Speaking of!” He splayed his fingers across the table. “We’re going to work on your magic.”

  “Inside…? What about the magic show?!” I started to feel my hands ice up.

  “What about my game?” Aidan mumbled.

  “We can work on the magic show later. Let’s have some fun! You want to be able to use your magic someday, right?”

  “Inside?” I repeated a little louder.

  “Relax, we’re not going to do that explosive stuff Maverick has you do. We’re going to work on something a lot more relaxing. Like moving your entire existence across the room!”

  “Because fading in and out of existence is so comforting…” Aidan mumbled.

  “Shush. You’ve never done it before.” Finn slapped the younger boy on the back of his head.

  “Nor do I have any desire to…” Aidan crossed his arms, huffing and turning away from Finn.

  “Is that so?” Finn smirked. Next thing I knew, Aidan disappeared and reappeared in the kitchen.

  “N-not funny!” Aidan clenched his fists at his side, stomping his right foot forward in fury.

  “Every day you turn into Maverick little by little.” I pinched the bridge of my nose.

  “Don’t insult me like that.” Finn gave a big, exaggerated frown that I knew was fake. He instantly scratched the back of his head.

  “Still. I don’t think lifting over a hundred pounds with magic is going to be any easier than lighting a candle. Can we try something else?”

  “W-what magic did you use at the manor? Maybe you can recall something?” Aidan suggested.

  I thought back to when magic had come as easily as breathing. It had been almost second nature—as if my body had been recalling long-lost memories. Those memories had since retreated into the depths of the void that was my brain. I supposed cloning myself wouldn’t be any easier than teleporting.

  “Ha! As if.” Finn snorted.

  “W-what?!” Aidan asked, intrigued yet also scared. He had since walked back from the kitchen.

  “Ella wants to clone herself again.”

  “No, I don’t!” I exclaimed. “It was the first thing that came to mind, okay?”

  “I suppose quick reflexes don’t count as magic?”

  “I’m not doing flips off the furniture!” I shouted loudly to make a point. Seriously! What magic had I even used back then? The memory was blurry.

  “You did splash me a couple times with water.” Finn shrugged.

  “Yeah, well, water is connected to my emotions. And unless you want to deal with flooding, I suggest we stay away from that.”

  “You could try summoning a weapon?”

  “I don’t think I ever did that to begin with. It was Maverick who created a sword for me.”

  “Well, try it now!” Finn leaned back into the kitchen chair, crossing his legs in the process.

  I shrugged. How was I even supposed to go about this? Did I just picture the weapon? Feel the weapon? A mix of both?

  “The weapon will be a manifestation of you. Picturing the weapon is pointless. I suppose you could try to feel it out? Most of us summon ours when facing danger,” Finn explained.

  “Please don’t make me face danger.” My hands instantly iced over at the thought of potential danger.

  “That’s not to say that you can’t summon it otherwise.”

  This wasn’t going to work. I already knew it.

  “You won’t succeed if you believe you’ll fail,” Finn said seriously, his gaze locked onto mine.

  “Maybe that’s why I always fail…” Aidan mumbled.

  “Could be. The two of you don’t believe in yourselves enough—”

  “Can you combine magic?” I asked.

  “Combine?” Finn’s eyebrows furrowed as he looked at me quizzically.

  “If we believe in each other, maybe we can get something to work.” I shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s just a thought I had.”

  “No, that’s stu—” He closed his mouth, his upper lip all but consuming his lower one before opening his mouth again. “You know what? Try it. You’re an Ethereal, maybe something weird will happen.”

  “Thanks,” I muttered.

  I beckoned Aidan over to me, and he hesitantly walked over. He stood in front of me, barely taller than me. I reached out and grabbed his hands in mine. I could feel his warm breath on my hand as he exhaled.

  I believe in you.

  I could feel warmth in my hands, similar to when my magic would trigger. Was it working?

  “No, it’s not. Aidan, don’t burn her.” Finn grabbed hold of Aidan’s bicep as he gently pulled him away.

  “Sorry,” Aidan mumbled. “What was I supposed to do?”

  “I don’t know—teleport her across the room or something. Use magic you don’t have, not something you know you’re able to do.”

  “So it didn’t work after all.” I sighed. “I’m tired of not making any progress!” I walked over to the dining room table and slammed my fist down. My own fist had grown warm by now, and I had noticed too late that sparks of fire began to envelop them. The fire spread quickly—it was only a matter of seconds before the table burst into flames. Finn was quick to put it out with water, though it wouldn’t have mattered, considering my stupid hands encased themselves in ice.

  “You’ll get there, Ella. You’ve done it before.” Finn tried to comfort me.

  “Oh yeah, I did it back when I consumed all of Meridia’s magic!”

  “T-technically it was me who—” Aidan was cut off.

  “Shut up!” I cried. “That magic was never mine to begin with. The ether wasn’t mine. I haven’t learned a damn thing the entire time I’ve had magic! Even you’re making progress!” I turned to Aidan.

  “Ella, that’s—” Finn was cut off.

  I shook my head, hoping that would rid my eyes of the tears enough for me to see through them. “I’m tired of being weak, of being the only one who can’t defend themself. Why can’t I do something? Anything! I’m just some weak little Earthling!”

  “You’re anything but weak, Ella. You’re an Ethereal.” Finn placed his hand on my shoulder. I couldn’t decide if his touch was comforting or suffocating.

  “Saying that is meaningless when I can’t access the power that comes with being an Ethereal.” I exhaled. “I’m sorry, can I have some time to myself?”

  “Yeah, sure.” Finn gave me a sympathetic smile as Aidan nodded in agreement.

  I had no qualms about kicking Dimitri out of my room for once. He quickly seemed to comply when he saw the state I was in.

  I was supposed to bring us together, and here I was lying in bed crying, my hands just as wet as my cheeks.

  I just… I wanted to be like them. I wanted to live up to my true potential.